Antispyware

/ˌæntiˈspaɪwɛər/ noun

Definition

Software designed to detect and remove spyware and other malicious programs from computer systems.

Etymology

Compound word combining 'anti-' (against) with 'spyware'. Emerged in the early 2000s as spyware threats became widespread with internet adoption.

Kelly Says

The antispyware industry emerged from the Wild West days of early internet computing, when downloading a single file could infect your computer with dozens of tracking programs that would slow it to a crawl.

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